The Department of Defense has awarded a $138 million contract to create a supply chain for prefilled syringes in preparation for a coronavirus vaccine.
The contract was awarded to ApiJect Systems America for "Project Jumpstart" and "RAPID USA," which will dramatically expand U.S. production capibility for domestically manufactured, medical-grade injection devices beginning in October 2020.
The DoD says this move will prepare a domestic supply chain that's suitable for combatting COVID-19 when a safe and proven vaccine becomes available.
Through the project, facilities will be able to manufacture more than 100 million prefilled syringes for distribution across the United States by the end of 2020. ApiJect Systems America will also be able to build several U.S. facilities with the ultimate production goal of over 500 million prefilled syringes (doses) in 2021. The facilities will be build in Connecticut, South Carolina and Illinois, with possible expansion to other locations.
